Begum Akhtar was Ghazal, Dadra and Thumri singer. She was also known as Akhtari Bai Faizabadi. She was born on October 7, 1914 in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. Asghar Hussain was her father and he was a lawyer. He did love marriage with her mother and made her second wife but later on refused to acknowledge her mother and her twin daughters Zohra and Bibbi (Akhtar).

When Begum Akhtar was just seven years old she was entranced by Chandra Bai’s music.  Chandra Bai was an artist of a touring theatre group. Due to her uncle’s appeal she got the opportunity to learn music from Ustad Imdad Khan, he was a great Sarangi exponent from Patna. She also got chance to learn music from Mohammed Khan who was from Patiala, Mohammad Khan and Abdul Waheed Khan of Lahore. At the end she became disciple of Ustad Jhande Khan.

Just at the age of fifteen, she gave her first public performance. She performed for victims of Bihar earthquake in 1934 and it was appreciated by the famous poetess Sarojini Naidu. Begum Akhtar was encouraged by her appreciation. Her first disk was for the Megaphone Record Company.  Many gramophone records which were containing her ghazals, thumris and dadras etc. released.

Begum Akhtar was a good looking girl and had a beautiful voice which made her perfect candidate for Bollywood films. She got the opportunity to act in few Bollywood films such as Mumtaz Beghum, King for a Day, Jawaani Ka Nasha, Roti etc. But later on she decided to be an Indian classical music singer because she was inspired by musician Gauhar Jan and Malak Jan. She had great command over light classical music and she could sing its moorings in the custom of pure classicism. She selected her repertoire in mainly classical styles such as ranging from simple to complex, different kind of raags.

In early years of film industry actor used to sing along with acting in the film so Begum Akhtar too used to sing in her all films. After acting in films she shifted to Lucknow and famous producer-director Mehboob Khan approached her for the film ‘Roti’. She acted in this film. Its music was composed by master Anil Biswas. This film had six ghazals of Begum Akhtar but due to differences, Mehboob Khan deleted 3-4 ghazals of her from film ‘Roti’.  Begum Akhtar’s ghazals are available on Megaphone gramophone records.  After that she left Bombay and moved back to Lucknow.

Akhtaribai got married to Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi in1945, he was a barrister and after that she was known as Begum Akhtar. Her husband did not allow her to sing and after marriage she did not sing for almost five years. She got sick and remedy of her sickness was that she should start singing again. Once again she did recordings of ghazals and dadra in studio and after finishing it she wept. She then started doing concerts which lasts till her death.

Due to her excellent command over music, she has received many awards in her life. For vocal music she was given Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Government of India has also given her Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.

She sang for so many years and her voice got developed over periods of time and added more richness and depth to her voice. She sang many ghazals and light classical music in her unique style. She was famous for her ghazal singing. She has sung around four hundred songs. She used to sing regularly on All India Radio. She used to compose her ghazals and most of her compositions were based on raag. Her singing style was amazing and that is why she was given the title of Mallika-e-Ghazal means Queen of Ghazals.

She died while singing in a concert in Ahmedabad. During her concert she felt that her singing is not as good as she wants so she raised the pitch of her voice and after that felt unwell. Because of stress she got sick and was taken to the hospital. She died in her friend Nilam Gamadia’s arm in 1974, she was the one who invited her for performing in Ahmedabad and that was her last performance.

Her few songs are:

Kalyug Hai Jabse Aaya Maya Ne...

Wo Hans Rahe Hain Aah Kiye Jaa...

Ulajh Gaye Nayanwa Chhute Nahin...

Char Dino Ki Jawani Matwale...

Ai Prem Teri Balihari Ho...

Phir Fasle Bahaar Aayi Hai...

Rehne Laga Hai Dil Me Andhera...

Hamen Yaad Teri Sataane Lagi...

Main Raja Ko Apne Rijha Ke Rahungi...

Ishq Mujhe Aur Kuchh To Yaad Nahi...